In what could be bizarre news for most Apple fans, the Beijing Intellectual Property Office has ruled that iPhone 6 and 6 Plus violated Chinese device maker Shenzhen Baili’s patent rights due to the similarities to its 100C phone. The Cupertino-based company may even have to halt the sales of its newest iPhones in Beijing.

Apple is yet to respond to the ruling. The tech giant can appeal against the ruling and may be permitted to continue selling its devices during the process.

iPhone 6/6 Plus Found to Have Violated Chinese Smartphone’s Patent

“The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus infringe on Shenzhen Baili’s patent rights because of similarities to its 100C phone, the Beijing Intellectual Property Office wrote in its decision. Apple, whose iconic gadgets helped define the modern smartphone industry, didn’t respond to requests for comment. The company can appeal the ruling and could be allowed to continue selling its phones during the process.” – Bloomberg.

Even though the intellectual rulings in China have been quite baffling in past as well, this one comes as a huge shocker since there is a very little similarity between iPhone 6 and Baili 100C.

“While the decision covers only Beijing, future lawsuits against Apple could take the case as a precedent, potentially influencing the outcomes of litigation elsewhere in China.”

“Baili is one of scores of smartphone brands trying to cash in on the country’s mobile boom. Xu Guoxiang, inventor of the patent and listed as a Baili representative on yellow-pages site czvv.com, did not answer calls seeking comment.”

As recently as last month, Apple lost the right to keep “iPhone” exclusive only to its products since the Beijing court pronounced that an accessory maker can use the label for its purses and wallets.

The tech giant had to pay $60 million to Proview International Holdings Ltd. in 2012 to keep the right to use the iPad name in China.